Wikipedia:Consensus dos and don'ts

This is an information page.

It is not an encyclopedic article, nor one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines; rather, its purpose is to explain certain aspects of Wikipedia:Consensus. It may reflect differing levels of consensus and vetting.

Consensus is Wikipedia's fundamental model for editorial decision-making: when it doesn't work, nothing else does either.

In situations involving consensus:

DO:

Be familiar with relevant policies, guidelines, and past discussions
Follow the BOLD, revert, discuss cycle
Challenge consensus at the right venue(s)
Neutrally ask for more opinions when needed
Take intractable disputes to the right dispute resolution process

DON'T:

Don't pretend a consensus you disagree with doesn't exist!
Don't use local consensus to ignore wider consensus
Don't close contentious discussions that you participated in
Don't canvass for support of your position
Don't use tendentious editing to get your way